Things to Binge

Oct 29, 2017

Words by Kellie Nock

Mid-semester has always been the most stressful time for me, from the quick turnaround of dealing with midterms to having to think about finals, to the homesickness that starts to sit in the pit of my stomach. Lacking the excitement of the beginning of the semester and the anticipation for the semester to end, the mid-semester is a bit of a slump. It’s OK if you’re in this slump; I am too. Between jobs, friends, love life and school, you’ll want to just sit back and unwind. So, take some time to! It’s OK to be dormant for a little while, so long as you can organize your time properly.

My favorite thing to do when I want to sink some time and not think for a little while is to just put my computer down next to me, lie down and watch something on Netflix. Sometimes I’m in the mood for a cheesy, ghosthunter show, or sometimes I want to sit down with my favorite show “Mad Men” and watch an old episode. There is a lot of comfort to be found in sitting down and watching your favorite show for 45 minutes a day.

Now, I know just as well as you know that often times 45 minutes turns into two hours, which turns into five hours, which turns into the rest of your day. I think it’s OK to let yourself go for a few hours, but don’t let it get in the way of things that important like class or work. That “Next Episode” button is the most tempting button in the world, but I would urge only to hit it if you know you’ve got the time.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to what you want to watch, and far be it for me to tell you what to watch, but here are some of my favorites:

I’m sure you all saw this one coming, especially since the second season just came out, but “Stranger Things” is one of the most binge-worthy shows on Netflix. Its story is exciting, its characters are charming and it always ends its episodes on a suspenseful note, basically forcing you to watch the next episode.

As much as I love “The Office,” sometimes it’s hard to sit through hours of cringing at Michael Scott’s well-intentioned, poorly executed antics. “Parks and Rec” is much easier to stomach when you just want something funny and light-hearted. If you’re looking to be in a good mood, this is the show for you.

Another light-hearted and fun show, “The Great British Baking Show” will not only make you smile, but it will also make you super hungry. Each episode features different desserts, and the baked goods look truly to die for.

This sketch comedy series is a good way to waste your time for a little bit. The episodes are funny and weird, but more than anything, the episodes are just enjoyable to watch. The wide range of characters, typically always played by Fred Armisen or Carrie Brownstein, are eclectic to the point of absurdity.

These are just a few of my favorites, but there are hundreds more that you can pick and choose at your leisure.

Being lost in these shows and their worlds is, to me, a good opportunity to get away from it all for a little while and not have to think about all of my responsibilities. Whether I’m watching Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood judge someone’s pound cake on “Great British Baking Show” or Candace and Toni running their bookstore “Women and Women First” on “Portlandia,” I’m able to not think about things and just enjoy the time that I have to myself. Remember, it’s OK to take a breath and slow down, and if your favorite way of doing that is watching some favorites on Netflix, then sit down, grab some popcorn and tune out the world, just for a little while.

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The Burr Magazine is Kent State University’s first student-produced magazine made for the campus, city and anyone seeking strong journalistic storytelling. The Burr strives to provide readers with interesting, humorous and hard-hitting stories that tap into current events, trends and the lives of those who have made a home in Kent. Providing award-winning student journalism since 1986.

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